Spring latch structure

ABSTRACT

A spring latch structure may be constructed utilizing as a part of the structure a support having a corner and a slot extending between its surfaces adjacent to the corner. With this structure a combination bolt or latch spring retainer fits around the support. This retainer has projections extending int o the slot so that the slot serves to guide the movement of the retainer. A spring is located within the slot between an end of the slot and at least one of these projections so as to normally bias the retainer to an extended position in which a latch element on the retainer extends from the support.

United States Patent [151 3,704,905 Rosenblatt et al. 1 Dec. 5, 1972 [54] SPRING LATCH STRUCTURE 2,746,784 5/1956 l-lolritz ..292/l75 [72] Inventors: Leonard Rosenblntt, Pacific P lisadfi i ris allery. a Mario S. Gallo, La Mirada, all of Field of Search ..292/145,l46,163,171,175, 292/337, DIG. l3, DIG. 15

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1929 Geiser ..292/l75 ri ary @EWEt-JQEP McGlynn Attorney-Edward D. O'Brien ABSTRACT A spring latch structure may be constructed utilizing as a part of the structure a support having a corner and a slot extending between its surfaces adjacent to the corner. With this structure a combination bolt or latch spring retainer fits around the support. This retainer has projections extending int 0 the slot so that the slot serves to guide the movement of the retainer. A spring is located within the slot between an end of the slot and at least one of these projections so as to normally bias the retainer to an extended position in which a latch element on the retainer extends from the support.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SPRING LATCH STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Spring latch structures of various types have been used for many, many centuries in connection with a wide variety of different structures. It is considered that they have primarily been utilized in connection with doors, lids, and other closures. Unquestionably prior spring latch structures have been quite utilitarian and serviceable.

It is considered that known prior structures have, however, suffered from several limitations or disadvantages making the use of these prior structures in certain present day applications undesirably expensive. At the present time cost is a matter of extreme importance in connection with virtually every product designedor intended for consumer or civil utilization. To be acceptable it is considered that a spring latch at the present time must be capable of being easily and conveniently manufactured at an extremely low cost. It is considered that such a latch must be capable of being assembled with virtually no difficulty and that such a latch must be capable of being used so as to give prolonged, reliable performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An objective of the present invention is to provide new and improved spring latch structures. More specifically an objective of the present invention is to provide new spring latch structures which are more acceptable for certain present day uses than prior related spring latch structures. Further objectives of the present invention are to provide spring latch structures as indicated which can be easily and conveniently manufactured at a comparatively nominal cost; which can be easily and conveniently assembled at a comparatively nominal cost; and which are capable of giving prolonged, effective, reliable performance and use.

In accordance with this invention these and various related objectives of this invention are achieved by providing a spring latch structure which includes: a support having opposed surfaces connected by intersecting first and second edges and having an elongated slot spaced from the first edge and parallel to the second. This support is used with a combination latch and spring retainer which extends around and over the second edge and which covers portions of the surface of the support and the slot. At least one of the sides of the retainer includes a latch element which normally extends from the first edge; at least one of the sides includes a first projection fitting into the slot; andat least one of the sides includes a second projection extending into the slot.

These projections are spaced and fit against the interior of the slot so that the retainer is guided by contact between the projections and the slot when it is moved. Such movement may be the result of digital or mechanical actuation applied from an external source or may be the result of the operation of a spring located within the slot so as to be resiliently biased between one end of the slot and one of the projections. Preferably the sides of the retainer are formed so as to include handle means to facilitate digital manipulation of the complete spring latch structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further details of the present invention will be apparent from a careful consideration of the remainder of this specification, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of a presently preferred embodiment or form of a spring latch structure in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in FIG. 1 showing the spring latch structure illustrated in the preceding figures in a retracted position.

From a detailed consideration of the accompanying drawing and of the remainder of this specification it will be realized that the essential features of the illustrated spring latch structure can be embodied within other somewhat differently appearing structures through the use of routine design or engineering skill. This will indicate that the present invention is not the specific structure illustrated, but rather involves concepts embodied within the illustrated structure and that the illustrated structure is only a specific embodiment or structure utilizing these specific concepts. These concepts are set forth in the appended claims defining the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing there is shown a spring latch structure 10 of the present invention utilized in connection with a flat plate-like support 12 having opposed sides or surfaces 14 connected by intersecting first and second edges 16 and 18, respectively. In the structureshown both of these edges are straight edges. The support 12 includes an elongated slot 20 extending parallel to the edge 18 and having an end 22 adjacent to the first edge 16 and another end 24 remote from the first edge 16.

This support 12 is utilized in connection with a combination latch and spring retainer 26. This retainer 26 is of a more or less U-shape, having a base 28 which extends around the second edge 18 and sides 30 and 32 extending over portions of the surfaces 14. In the structure shown both of these sides 30 and 32 carry extending latch elements 34 of a complementary curved shape which normally extends from the first edge 16 as shown. Together these latch elements appear as a curved bolt having a rounded end separated by a slot. The curved configurations of the latch elements 34 help them have adequate structural resiliency for utilitarian purposes. If desired, only one of these extending latch elements 34 need be used.

It will be noted that the latch elements 34 extend along the surfaces 14 from the first edge 16 so as to overlie a portion of the length of the slot 20. These latch elements 34, are as shown, aligned with the slot 20. One of these latch elements 34 includes an inwardly bent projection 36 having a sloping surface 38 and a flat rear surface 40 extending substantially perpendicular to the support 12. lt will be apparent from FIG. 2 of the drawing that this projection 36 extends inwardly a sufficient distance so as to fit within the slot 20 so that the rear surface 40 will engage the end 22, limiting movement of the retainer 26 to the left as this retainer 26 is viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The sides 30 and 32 of the retainer 26 also includes elongated curved, semi-cylindrical portions 42 which are aligned with the latch elements 34 and which lead away from them along the lengths of the sides 30 and 32. Thus, these curved portions 42 extend to the end 44 of the retainer 26 remote from the latch elements 34 and the first edge 16. These curved portions 42 are provided with inwardly extending projections or dimples 46 which may either contact one another or may be closely spaced from one another. These projections 46 hold under compression a small coil spring 48 against the end 24 of the slot 20 so that this spring 48 normally tends to bias the retainer 26 to an extended position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the projection 36 engages the end 22 in order to limit the movement of the retainer 26.

This retainer 26 may be withdrawn from this extended position to a retracted position by engaging small handles 50 formed on the sides 30 at the end 44 and pulling on the retainer 26. Through engagement of the projections 46 with the spring 48 this spring will, of course, be compressed as this occurs. During movement as described the projections 36 and 46 engage the edges of the slot 20 so as to in effect guide the retainer 26 so that it can be moved only in a linear manner.

This guiding action can be achieved if two projections spaced from one another are used on the retainer 26. Thus, this guiding action could be achieved if the two projections 46 were replaced by a single projection corresponding to the projection 36, but facing the other direction than the projection 36. Although no reason is seen for doing this, this projection 36 could be replaced by two different projections on both of the sides 30 and 32 serving the same function as the projections 36.

One particular advantage of the invention lies in the ease by which the complete structure may be assembled. It will, of course, be recognized that the parts employed in this structure may be easily formed by conventional inexpensive techniques. After these parts are formed the spring 48 may be located within the slot and the retainer 26 may be slid into place over the support 12 and the spring 48 from the edge 16. As this occurs the projections 36 and 46 will snap over the surface 14 and into the slot 20, and as the projections 46 enter the slot 20 they will in due course engage and compress the spring 48 so as to hold it under compres- 8100.

I claim:

1. A spring latch structure which comprises:

a support having opposed surfaces, intersecting first and second edges extending between said surfaces and an elongated slot extending parallel to said second edge and spaced from said first edge,

a combination latch and spring retainer extending around and over said second edge and having sides extending over portions of said surfaces and coveri said slot at Pe ast one of said sides including a latch element normally extending from said first edge when said retainer is in an extended position, projection means on said retainer extending into said slot for guiding the movement of said retainer between extended and retracted positions, coil spring means located within said slot and held under compression betweenan end of said slot and said retainer for biasing said retainer towards said extended position. 2. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

there are two of said projection means, one of said projection means engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position so as to prevent said retainer from being moved past said extended position by said spring means, the other of said projection means engaging an end of said coil spring means so as to hold said coil spring means under compression, both of said projection means fitting within said slot so as to guide movement of said retainer. 3. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said one of said projection means includes a sloping w'all located on the side thereof next to said spring and a perpendicular wall engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position. 4. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said sides are spaced from the end of said retainer remote from said latch element so as to permit said retainer to be slid over said support from said first edge and to be slid over said coil spring during the assembly of said spring latch structure. 5. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said retainer includes handle means extending therefrom. 6. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

there are two of said projection means, one of said projection means engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position so as to-prevent said retainer from being moved past said extended position by said spring means, the other of said projection means engaging an end of said coil spring means so as to hold said coil spring means under compression, both of said projection means fitting within said slot so as to guide movement of said retainer, said one of said projection means includes a sloping wall located on the side thereof next to said spring and a perpendicular wall engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position, said sides are spaced from the end of said retainer remote from said latch element so as to permit said retainer to be slid over said support from said first edge and to be slid over said coil spring during the assembly of said spring latch structure, said retainer includes handle means extending therefrom. 

1. A spring latch structure which comprises: a support having opposed surfaces, intersecting first and second edges extending between said surfaces and an elongated slot extending parallel to said second edge and spaced from said first edge, a combination latch and spring retainer extending around and over said second edge and having sides extending over portions of said surfaces and covering said slot, at least one of said sides including a latch element normally extending from said first edge when said retainer is in an extended position, projection means on said retainer extending into said slot for guiding the movement of said retainer between extended and retracted positions, coil spring means located within said slot and held under compression between an end of said slot and said retainer for biasing said retainer towards said extended position.
 2. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: there are two of said projection means, one of said projection means engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position so as to prevent said retainer from being moved past said extended position by said spring means, the other of said projection means engaging an end of said coil spring means so as to hold said coil spring means under compression, both of said projection means fitting within said slot so as to guide movement of said retainer.
 3. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said one of said projection means includes a sloping wall located on the side thereof next to said spring and a perpendicular wall engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position.
 4. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said sides are spaced from the end of said retainer remote from said latch element so as to permit said retainer to be slid over said support from said first edge and to be slid over said coil spring during the assembly of said spring latch structure.
 5. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said retainer includes handle means extending therefrom.
 6. A spring latch structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: there are two of said projection means, one of said projection means engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position so as to prevent said retainer from being moved past said extended position by said spring means, the other of said projection means engaging an end of said coil spring means so as to hold said coil spring means under compression, both of said projection means fitting within said slot so as to guide movement of said retainer, said one of said projection means includes a sloping wall located on the side thereof next to said spring and a perpendicular wall engaging an end of said slot when said retainer is in said extended position, said sides are spaced from the end of said retainer remote from said latch element so as to permit said retainer to be slid over said support from said first edge and to be slid over said coil spring during the assembly of said spring latch structure, said retainer includes handle means extending therefrom. 